McKnight Answers the Call for USC

The pressure was on for someone to step up for USC. With Ohio State's defense charged with energy, the Trojans needed to drive the length of the field in order to keep their dream of an undefeated season alive.

USC junior running back Joe McKnight answered the call.

After struggling for three quarters, McKnight gained 54 of his 105 yards from scrimmage to lead the Trojans on a game-winning 16-play, 86-yard, six-minute drive in an 18-15 victory over the Buckeyes in front of a crowd of 106,033 at "The Shoe" on Saturday night.

"It felt very good," McKnight told reporters about being the man who was counted on to carry the football for USC down the stretch against Ohio State. "They've got about six other running backs they could have put in, but they stayed with me. I'll have to thank Coach [Pete] Carroll for that."

McKnight admitted that he was a little surprised that Carroll stuck with him after he missed a block that led to quarterback Matt Barkley being sacked on the first play of the game-winning drive. But McKnight proved to be ready when his number was dialed the next time to make a play.

And, he did not have to wait long. On second down and 19 from USC's own five-yard line, McKnight gained 11 tough yards and then on third-and-eight, he snuck out of the backfield for a short pass and turned it into 21 yards for a key first down to the Trojans' 37.

USC's reliance on McKnight did not stop there. He rushed the ball four more times in the drive, highlighted by a nifty nine-yard cutback run for a first down, and a powerful eight-yard run that helped set up teammate Stafon Johnson's deciding two-yard touchdown sweep.

McKnight then capped things off by catching a two-point conversion pass from Barkley to finish the scoring for the Trojans.

"High school was the last time I felt this good after a game, and that was a while ago," McKnight said with a laugh. "It was a big one for me, but I'm making up for two [disappointing] years."

When McKnight first joined Carroll's highly regarded football program, he arrived with a reputation as a hotshot freshman from Louisiana billed to be the Trojans' next version of Reggie Bush.

But despite given multiple opportunities as a runner/receiver and kick returner over his first two seasons, McKnight had a difficult time playing up to the hype.

"I mean, it's a lot of pressure," McKnight, who earned All-Everything honors at John Curtis High in Suburban New Orleans, said near the end of last season. "I tried to live up to expectations."

Fumbles, missed assignments and inconsistent play seemed to always overshadow many of the positive things McKnight did on the field. Although McKnight played injured for most of 2008 and finished with 21 catches to go along with 659 yards rushing at a 7.4 yards per carry average, his stock had clearly dropped.

That's why heading into this season, McKnight's name unfortunately was associated more with "Bust" than "Bush." Something had to change and McKnight knew it more than anyone.

So he took the criticism like a man and worked hard during the offseason to rebuild his image.

McKnight, generously listed at 6-foot and 180 pounds coming out of high school, added muscle and improved his overall game as a running back. The results were noticeable.

After entering USC's training camp listed as a backup among a group of talented running backs, McKnight emerged as the Trojans' Week One starter, thanks to a string of consistent practices.

"Joe has a whole variety of things he does," Carroll said after he named McKnight (who now weighs close to 200 pounds) as starter for USC's opening game. "He has a wider spectrum than the other guys ... he runs routes like a wide receiver, catches the ball outside and can do things very well in the backfield."

McKnight, who had made only two starts before this season, knew that he was ready for his chance and primed himself to make the most of the opportunity with Johnson, C.J. Gable, Allen Bradford, Marc Tyler and Curtis McNeal each pushing for playing time.

Against San Jose State, McKnight opened the season by rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns in 14 carries, and also caught a pass for 21 yards in USC's 56-3 victory.

It was the type of performance the Trojans were looking for from McKnight, and that's a key reason why they turned to him to get the job done late against the Buckeyes.

"Tonight was the first time that Joe has strapped us on his back and taken us down the field," USC running backs coach Todd McNair told the L.A. Daily News. "It was a huge moment for him, and for us. If he can harness that and deliver in those situations, it can be a defining moment for us."

For McKnight, it's not about turning back now. He knows that he has to keep producing in order to keep getting his chances, which is something he has made the most of so far this season.

"During the offseason, I wanted to get physical," McKnight said. "The first couple of years, I wasn't physical. I wanted to score every time. The last drive [against Ohio State], I stayed with the stuff I know. Just pound it down the field and follow the offensive line."